When it comes to the best coffee makers, Keurig is a top contender. It is known for its user-friendly machines and the innovation of K-Cups. Whether you're a fan of a strong morning brew or a quick espresso pick-me-up, Keurig has a range of machines designed to cater to your specific needs and preferences.
At Top Ten Reviews, we're fond of the Keurig brand, and our team has rigorously tested various models to bring you this comprehensive guide. Each machine was tested for at least two weeks, evaluating setup, usability, and maintenance.
Keep reading to discover our top selections, including our overall favorite. If you're interested in the best pod coffee makers, we also have a guide comparing our top picks.
Quick list: Top picks
This list in brief is an overview section of all the Keurigs we've reviewed, showing you exactly what you need to know - all at a glance. This allows you to jump to the more detailed reviews further down the page for the product you want to know more about.
Best overall
The best Keurig coffee maker overall
We have chosen this as our overall best pick because it's an 'all-rounder' - "a modern, easy-to-use machine for those coffee connoisseurs" who just want a really good, fresh cup of joe without the coffee house price.
Best for serving sizes
The best for a range of serving sizes
The Keurig K-Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker brews hot and iced coffee with the click of a button, so it's best for coffee lovers who like variety. It also has five different cup sizes to control the size of your single serve.
Best for families
The best Keurig coffee maker for families
The Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker can use both ground coffee and K-cups and offers two brewing options, so it's a flexible machine that offers choice without the hassle. It's small and easy to clean, too, perfect for a busy family kitchen.
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Best for customization
The best Keurig coffee maker for customization
The Keurig K-Supreme Smart Coffee Maker is a versatile pod-based machine that allows you to customize your drink’s strength, temperature, and size and even brew certain drinks directly over ice. It is a high-tech single-serve coffee maker.
Best for iced coffee
The best Keurig coffee maker for iced coffee
The Keurig K-Iced is a compact and easy-to-use coffee maker that lacks advanced features but is ideal for those with limited counter space and a budget.
Best for small spaces
The best Keurig coffee maker for small spaces
This quirky and colorful Keurig coffee maker is perfect for smaller spaces, such as dorm rooms or smaller apartments, due to it being the smallest variant of Keurig available. Due to its size, it's a simple machine to operate.
The best Keurig coffee makers we recommend in 2024
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The best Keurig coffee maker overall
This K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker is a convenient way to get barista-quality drinks at home, making it a great choice for coffee lovers. This versatile machine has a milk frother, so you can make lattes and cappuccinos based on your cup size, strength, and temperature preferences.
It's not a great design, being available mainly in silver, but it's larger than typical Keurig machines, which makes it a great product at a great price. The user-friendly light-up display makes it easy to navigate and understand the different functions available, which is a significant advantage for both new and experienced users.
Because of its size and extra features like the milk frother, our reviewer thought the K-Café was more complicated than other Keurig machines. But they got used to it pretty quickly, appreciating how quickly it heated up and how quiet it was. Compared to other models like the K-Duo, the K-Café stood out for its easy way to control coffee strength.
It tasted great, and our reviewer was really happy with it. K-Café Special Edition is a great coffee maker for coffee lovers who like brewing the perfect cup despite the steeper learning curve. With the milk frother, users can get the best coffee experience, leaving them happy with every sip. Anyone who values quality and customization in their coffee routine will love this machine.
Read more: Keurig K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
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Price & availability | High quality, good value, decent availability online. | ★★★★★ |
Design | Intuitive design, slightly bulky, loose reservoir lid. | ★★★★ |
Performance | Quick heating time, rich, flavorful coffees with variety | ★★★★★ |
The best Keurig coffee maker for range of serving sizes
If you're looking for a straightforward and reliable coffee maker without excessive features, the Keurig K-Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker is a great choice. There's a 75-ounce water reservoir, a drip tray, and a water filter, so it's both efficient and practical.
Modern kitchens will love this coffee maker because it takes up a minimal amount of counter space and looks great. Customers can choose from three stylish colors: brushed silver, gold, and slate. Its buttons are visible from a distance and illuminate when selected, giving a user-friendly experience despite not being clearly labeled.
Using the K-Elite is remarkably easy. Just insert your favorite coffee pod and press the designated buttons to select your drink size—4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 ounces. If you're using it for the first time, you might want to check the user manual for clarity because these sizes are only represented by pictures on the buttons.
One of the standout features of this machine is its quiet operation. It heats up and brews your coffee with minimal noise, so you can use it whenever. Furthermore, it's easy to clean—only the water reservoir is removable and dishwasher safe.
The K-Elite's strong brew option makes it easy to customize your drink. The Keurig K-Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker makes a satisfying cup of coffee. It's a reliable, easy-to-use machine perfect for both casual drinkers and connoisseurs.
Read more: Keurig K-Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
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Price & availability | Great value on Amazon and Keurig.com | ★★★★ |
Design | Chic modern design, perfect size for most kitchens. | ★★★★ |
Performance | Quick heating time, little noise, makes good coffee. | ★★★★ |
The best Keurig coffee maker for families
The reviewer evaluated the Keurig K-Duo's performance and overall value over a two-week period. As a result, the K-Duo stands out among other models, like the K-Select, but remains compact enough for any kitchen countertop. Even though it's only available in black, black is a timeless and versatile color for kitchen appliances.
One of the standout features is the easy-to-use LCD screen and buttons that light up to provide clear indicators for brewing time, chosen ounces, and brew type. The K-Duo is designed for versatility; users can brew a full carafe or a single serving using K-Cup pods. Pushing the handle down to puncture a K-Cup takes a little effort. Furthermore, features like the 'strong' button let you brew a stronger cup, and the 'pause and pour' option lets you dispense hot water before brewing.
K-Duo has an Auto-Off button, so you don't have to worry about overheating or forgetting to turn it off. Brewing takes just five minutes with ground coffee and a filter, and the warming plate keeps it hot for two hours—perfect for second cups. There's enough water in the reservoir to last several days without refilling.
Ultimately, the K-Duo is easy to clean and delivers a satisfying cup of coffee, so it's a great option for coffee lovers.
Read the Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
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Price & availability | Great value; only available on Amazon and Keurig.com | ★★★★ |
Design | Chic modern design and small enough for anywhere | ★★★★★ |
Performance | Quick heating time, rich, flavorful coffee, mess-free | ★★★★ |
The best Keurig coffee maker for customization
The Keurig K-Supreme Smart Coffee Maker stands out from simpler ones. With this coffee maker, users can adjust the strength and temperature of the brew to suit their tastes. Thanks to its Wi-Fi connection, you can adjust coffee settings from the comfort of your couch.
In addition to having a dual-position water tank and raised screen, the K-Supreme is an ideal single-serve option for small kitchens. Its lightweight design makes it easy to transport, and it's user-friendly, thanks to a handle on the 66-ounce plastic water tank and an intuitive digital control panel.
On the K-Supreme, you can customize your cup with five different brew strengths and six different temperature settings. It also has an option for brewing coffee over ice and is compatible with K-Cups, so you can make it work for whatever you want.
While the coffee maker's performance impressed our reviewer, particularly its BrewID feature that optimizes settings for different drinks, the app left something to be desired. The app's functionality feels a little limited, and the reviewer says it's quicker to put a pod in and start the machine manually. Some features also require Wi-Fi, so make sure you have it connected.
Read our full Keurig K-Supreme SMART Coffee Maker review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Price | Expensive for a Keurig model but good compared to others. | ★★★★★ |
Design | A great bunch of features and adjustable settings. | ★★★★★ |
Performance | Performs well but the app is just as quick as pressing start. | ★★★★ |
The best Keurig coffee maker for iced coffee
The Keurig K-Iced Single-Serve Coffee Maker can brew hot and iced coffee in under two minutes, so it's a great choice for coffee lovers who like both. This machine can brew a delicious cup in less than two minutes. The design and functionality of this machine stand out, even though it lacks some features found in higher-end models.
With its narrow width of just 5.1 inches, the Keurig K-Iced fits in any space, whether next to another appliance or in a pantry. In spite of the plastic parts, the overall look is sleek and modern. There's a 42-oz water reservoir, a removable drip tray, and large buttons for controlling it. It doesn't have a waste bin for used K-cups, so you'll have to throw them away separately.
One of the defining features of the K-Iced is its ability to brew a concentrated cup specifically designed for iced coffee. When it's iced, it's ready to drink. There are some minor annoyances, like coffee splatter or occasional grinds in your cup, but it's generally a hassle-free experience. If you're looking for easy use and quick results in your coffee-making routine, the Keurig K-Iced is a great choice.
Read more: Keurig K-Iced review
Attribute | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Price & availability | Budget-friendly coffee maker that brews hot and iced coffee adding to value. Wide availability makes it easy to find. | ★★★★★ |
Design | Compact design makes it easy to fit anywhere, the water reservoir adds convenience, an excessive amount of plastic in build gives off a cheap feel | ★★★ |
Performance | Makes coffee quickly, simple to use, easy to maintain | ★★★★ |
The best Keurig coffee maker for small spaces
If you're short on space but still crave a good cup of coffee, the Keurig K-Mini Plus may be the perfect solution. It can be used in small living spaces, like apartments or dorm rooms. With only two brew settings, it takes a little while to make your coffee, but despite a few minor quirks, it makes a satisfying cup.
The Keurig K-Mini Plus fits perfectly into cramped kitchen spaces, making it a great space-saving option. The built-in container can store up to nine K-cups, but you might need more space for more pods.
This coffee maker's funky design makes it perfect for a dorm room or casual apartment. It's available in vibrant colors like misty green and cardinal red.
The water tank is quite small and needs to be refilled for each cup even though it makes single servings of coffee instead of a full pot. The handy 10-ounce line on the tank makes it easy to measure your water, and you can brew a stronger cup by pressing ‘strong.’
It takes about two minutes to heat up, but if you're in a hurry, it's a good choice. You should also use a tall mug to avoid splattering water on your counters, but the removable drip tray lets you use travel mugs. Although the Keurig K-Mini Plus has its quirks, it's still a great coffee maker for small spaces since it brews hot, delicious coffee.
Read our full Keurig K-Mini Plus review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Price | Very affordable even if it only makes one serve. | ★★★★ |
Design | Basic design which splatters water at times. | ★★★ |
Performance | Slow to brew a cup of coffee but coffee tastes good. | ★★★ |
How to choose the best Keurig coffee maker for you
When buying a Keurig coffee maker, you'll want to consider price, of course, but there are also many other features you may want to think about, such as:
What type of coffee do you like to use? The Keurig coffee maker offers a wide range of options, from drip filter coffee to quick espresso-style coffee using pods. This variety will surely excite you, as there's a Keurig for every coffee preference.
Are you grinding those beans? The Keurig coffee maker with a built-in grinder for fresh coffee beans is not only a great idea for the real barista experience but can also save you money. This cost-saving potential will make you feel financially savvy.
Size is important! Machines with a carafe are great, as a larger coffee jug lets you share with family, in the office, with guests, etc. If you opt for a jug/carafe style, ensure you have a good heating plate, too, to make sure as little as possible goes to waste by getting cold. If you want coffee fast, you may want a smaller machine that heats up faster and gets you a single cup quickest.
Are you looking for other 'fancy' features? Some people want a regular coffee maker that'll pour out a nice hot espresso - simple as that. However, you may be looking for more advanced features, such as:
* A timer - Some coffee makers have LED displays and digital clocks, so you can set a timer to start brewing your early morning coffee, ready for when you wake up. Who doesn't want a nice hot cup of joe waiting for them in the morning?
* Auto-pause controls - so you don't have to wait for the machine to finish brewing to grab a coffee mid-brew.
* Accessories for milky drinks - like a steam wand or milk frother for creating lattes and cappuccinos.
* Strength controls—Some of the Keurigs listed above have a 'strong' button you can push when you need a stronger, darker cup.
* Easy-clean features - very important if you're busy and don't have time to take apart your machine to clean it carefully.
* Audible signals - have you ever made a coffee, forgotten about it, and found it stone-cold later? Some machines will beep so you can hear when your coffee is ready from the next room over.
Keurig coffee maker FAQs
How much do Keurig coffee makers cost?
Keurig coffee makers run the gamut from as low as $50 to more than $200 easily; there are currently some good deals to be had over on the Keurig website. Even modestly priced coffee makers intended for home use can still produce excellent coffee and offer enough features to satisfy even the most demanding coffee lovers.
It's worth considering costs when choosing between a pod machine and one that uses ground coffee. Pods can be quite pricey over time, and buying them becomes an ongoing purchase, especially if you sign up for a monthly pod subscription.
How long do Keurig coffee makers last?
A Keurig coffee maker should typically last between 3 and 5 years if used daily, but this depends on your usage and how often you maintain your machine. If used multiple times a day, you should ensure even more regular cleaning and descaling to prevent the build-up of minerals from your water. Any clogs, leaks, or other issues caused by neglecting to describe the machine could significantly shorten the lifespan.
Can you use Keurig Cups without a machine?
Though Keurig would probably prefer its K-Cups to be used with its branded machines, one can be used without the other. K-Cups are all-in-one coffee pods with paper filters and ground coffee sealed by foil lids. You can empty them out and use the grounds to brew your coffee. Some third-party coffee makers also allow you to use K-Cups as your pod of choice.
When is the best time to buy a Keurig coffee maker?
You can buy a Keurig at major shopping events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Coffee makers usually get a lot of discounts during these sales, so you're a great time to buy one. You can also get great deals on holiday promotions leading up to Christmas.
Whenever Keurig releases a new model, older models often see price drops. If you don't need the latest features, you can save a lot by waiting for these releases. Keurigs are often on sale during seasonal sales events throughout the year, such as end-of-summer sales or back-to-school sales.
Many retailers run spring cleaning sales throughout March and April, offering discounts on various household items, including Keurigs. You can also find competitive prices and exclusive offers on coffee makers on websites like Amazon and Walmart.
How we tested the best Keurig coffee makers
We take testing coffee makers very seriously because we here at Top Ten Reviews drink it a lot, like, a LOT. Whether it's an americano, espresso, cappuccino, or latte, we know what good quality coffee tastes like. With our extensive testing, we know the important things to look out for when choosing a Keurig.
Our experts test each coffee maker we review for a few weeks. This gives them enough time to set up the machine, clean it before use, and select coffees to see how it performs. The factors we look out for during testing include ease of set-up, settings and functions, cleaning/maintenance, and—most importantly—how the coffee tastes.
Sometimes, the reviewer gets to use the coffee maker for longer than a few weeks to test for longevity - the ultimate value-for-money test. Knowing how to de-scale a Keurig to look after your machine in the long run.
Learn more about how we test coffee makers and all the other things we review, such as appliances and yard tools.